Then he turned to Cary: "Have any trouble on the road as you came
along?"

The other man shook his head.

"None to speak of. We were stopped several times of course, but each
time your pass let us through without delay--until we met Dudley. And
now I'm worried, Colonel," he said frankly, while his eyes tried to tell
the other all that he feared without putting it in words, "worried on
your account. It's easy to see that the man has a grudge against you--"

"Yes, I'm afraid he has," was the thoughtful reply. "But really, Cary,
you mustn't try to carry any more burdens than your own, just now. I
know what you mean and what, I daresay, you'd be only too willing to do,
but I can't permit it."

They were interrupted by the spectacle of Virgie standing before them
with anxiously furrowed brow, a paper bag in one hand and three spoons
clutched in the other.

"But Colonel Morrison," she was saying in tragic tones, "there isn't a
drop of milk."

"Milk!" he cried in mock despair. "Well, dash my buttons if I didn't
forget to order a cow."

"Oh, _I_ know what to do," cried the child. Dropping her supplies and
utensils she ran to the wall and climbed up.

"Hey, there, _you_" commanded the small general with an imperious
gesture to the assembled troopers. "One of you men ride right over to
camp and bring us back some milk--an' butter."

At this abrupt demand of so small a rebel on the commissary of the
United States a roar of laughter went up from the troopers, though some
of them had the grace to salute and so relieve the child of
embarrassment.

"Virgie! Virgie!" called her father, scandalized.

"It's all right, Cary," Morrison laughed. "She's only starting in at
giving orders a little earlier than most women.

"Never you mind, Miss Brigadier," he comforted. "We'll have all those
luxuries next time, or when I come to see you in Richmond after the war
is over. Just now we'll do the best we can. Come along."

Virgie got down from the wall and pattered up to the fire.

"Is it ready yet?" she asked with the perfect directness of seven years.

"In a minute now. Ah-hah! There she goes."

He took the pot from the fire and set it down on a rock where,
presently, he brought a cupful of cold water to pour in.

"Is that to settle it?" she asked of her father.

"Yes, child--and I wish all our questions were as easily cleared up.
And now--to the attack."

"Right-o. Virgie--pass the beautiful, hand painted china and let's